* I have to spill my confused emotions somewhere and this blog is usually the place for it. I generally do not publish posts written when I am emotional – they languish in my drafts forever. For some reason I am scheduling this post. Don’t read it*

There is a huge difference between “being proud of someone” and “making that someone proud”

Which do you prefer?

The world expects me to say I am proud of India, my motherland – the chauvinist country which sets a different rule for its daughters. I am supposed to say I am proud of the so-called Indian culture which believes a daughter does not belong to her parents after marriage. The world expects me to be proud of different things and people.

Why should I be? What does being proud of X mean? Being born in the country/city/state or sharing a common blood or a school is a reason to be proud of? I am not sure what that entities. At times being blindly proud of someone/something without knowing enough about them may turn to be a costly mistake. A proud admirer is a fan? What does that pride achieve?

Honestly more often than not I care about making someone proud. I am not interested in being proud of someone.

I rather do something that makes someone proud.

There is nothing like making someone proud. Especially your 70+ year old grandmother. When she says those words, I know I am doing this life thing right.